Whilst the internet provides helpful resources for individuals experiencing self-harm and suicidal feelings, it does carry potential risks by presenting opportunities to access graphic content, details around methods of harm and content that glorifies or promotes self-harm and suicide.
For anyone concerned about suicide or self-harm content online, there are many helpful resources and information available to help. The following are just some examples.
General resources and information
Suicide and self-harm content on social media platforms: Tips and tools for safe and sensitive communication – A resource from the HSE network of Resources Officers for Suicide Prevention (ROSPs), which provides practical information about suicide and self-harm content on social media, how to respond to it, and further information and resources.
#chatsafe – #chatsafe is a suicide prevention program from Orygen in Australia that aims to equip young people with the skills and knowledge to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide. It includes resources for adults. In 2022 the HSE NOSP worked with Orygen as part of their efforts to globalise resources for other countries, and published the #chatsafe for parents and carers guide in Ireland.
Managing self-harm and suicide content online: Guidelines for sites and platforms hosting user generated content – The guidelines have been developed by Samaritans for policymakers, moderators of websites and individuals wanting to ensure that they can protect users and employees from potentially harmful content on self-harm and suicide being posted on sites and platforms.
Samaritans: The internet and suicide – A range of resources including online harm advisory service, Guidance for practitioners and Online Excellence Programme – a hub of resources relating to online suicide prevention.
Guide to reporting content to social media platforms: Reporting social media content that promotes suicide or self-harm – The HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has produced a helpful booklet outlining how social media content that promotes suicide or self-harm, can be harmful, and how to report it. Copies of this booklet are available to order in the Mental Health section of www.healthpromotion.ie.
The harmful impact of suicide and self-harm content online: A review of the literature – Research by the NSRF in Ireland which identifies, reviews and summarises the literature and evidence on the impact of harmful suicide or self-harm content online.
CyberSafeKids – CyberSafeKids is an Irish charity, which has been empowering children, parents, schools and businesses to navigate the online world in a safer and more responsible way. They provide talks, information, e-learning, research and other resources.
Webwise – A website by the Department of Education which offers advice and education on online safety for young people, teachers and parents. Webwise provides a wide range of information, campaigns, initiatives and programmes.
My Little Toolkit – A tool-kit of self-care practices developed by the Family Resource Centre (FRC) National Mental Health Promotion Project which aims to provide individuals with tools that can support them on their self-care journey.
Lifeline Online Postvention Manual – Recommendations by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (USA) detailing how to safely memorialise someone who has died by suicide which can be applied to online memorials and online messages about the deceased.
Recommendations for blogging on suicide – Best practices for blogging on suicide are a project of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) and were developed with the guidance and expertise of an international advisory panel of experts and bloggers.
Best Practices for Medico-Legal Professionals Who Work with the Media – This comprehensive guide aims to support law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, forensic experts, and public health information officers in effectively and responsibly working with the media on sensitive issues surrounding suicide.
'Empathy Online' is a new, free, self-directed digital programme designed to help young people combat harm in online spaces by building a toolkit of empathy-based skills.
Language and suicide
Information on language and suicide – Information from the HSE NOSP highlighting the importance of using sensitive and non-stigmatising language.
Talking about suicide: A Guide to Safe Language – Information on safe language and using appropriate imagery associated with suicide, from Roses in the Ocean (Australia).
Coimisiún na Meán
Coimisiún na Meán is responsible for Ireland’s Online Safety Framework. This framework makes digital services accountable for how they protect people, especially children, from harm online.
Spot it. Flag it. Stop it. If you spot illegal content online, please report it to the platform where you saw it. Platforms have to remove content that is illegal and diligently apply their own rules about acceptable content.
For detailed information on complaints mechanisms that are provided for under the Digital Services Act, visit Coimisiún na Meáns dedicated complaints guidance page. If your questions are not answered here, you can contact the Coimisiún na Meán Contact Centre on + 353 1 963 7755 or email usersupport@cnam.ie.
Self Care
It is important to be mindful of the impact that exposure to negative online content such as conversations, videos or images relating to self-harm or suicide can have on your own wellbeing. Research has shown that even passive exposure (i.e., viewing content but not creating or posting content) to suicide or self-harm-related social media content can increase emotional disturbance and even suicide ideation in viewers, including in those with no prior history of suicide ideation. It is important to prioritise self-care at times when incidents or content related to suicide and self-harm impact on our well-being.
If you or someone you know is in urgent need of care, please see the services listed here.
